The CMC Alumni Association commemorated the golden anniversary of its incorporation with a gala dinner June 8 at the landmark Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
More than 130 guests attended the festivities, which celebrated the individuals who have both shaped and contributed to the CMCAA's success over the years. Ceremonies also included the installation of new CMCAA president Laura May Grisolano '86, and honors to outgoing president Laura Lulejian Klein '92. As immediate past president, Lulejian Klein also presented fellow CMCAA past president Gene Wolver '51 with the inaugural Eugene L. Wolver Jr. '51 Lifetime Service Award. The award recognized Wolver's success in having legalized the CMCAA by establishing it as an independent California nonprofit corporation while he was serving as the Association's founding legal counsel and parliamentarian, and will be awarded in the future to others whose outstanding service has enhanced the organization.
A recipient of the Jack L. Stark Distinguished Service Award, Wolver was elected to the CMC Board of Trustees in 1959. During his five decades on the Board, Wolver has served as chair or vice chair of more committees than any Trustee, including the Budget, Building & Grounds, Student Relations, and Alumni Affairs committees, and also served as vice chair and legal counsel as the College went coeducational in 1976. Additionally, he served as president of the CMCAA from 1959 to 1960, and also was the founder and first chairman of the CMCAA Past President's Council.
His numerous contributions to the College include generously supporting the John E. Allen '73 Black Alumni Merit Award Fund and the Community Service Internship Fund, as well as establishing endowed scholarship funds honoring the memories of Professors Golo Mann and John Dunbar, and Martin L. Wolver.
John Faranda '79, vice president for alumni relations, warmly refers to Wolver as "the godfather' of the Association," and describes him as "the consummate gentleman.
"He has been a mentor to me and to decades of CMCAA presidents and leaders for more than 50 years," Faranda says, "and he is always vigilant in promoting the best interests of the College and the Association. He is the longest-serving member of the Board of Trustees and is famous for saying that CMCAA stands for Create More Conscious Alumni Awareness."
Wolver, who participated in a 50th Anniversary CMCAA roundtable discussion last fall with other past Alumni Association presidents, has called the CMCAA a "family of very passionate people" who share a "real sense of dedication" to the College. (Read the complete anniversary discussion: http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/news/cmcmagazine/2005fall/LivingHistory/).
Andrea Eldridge '88, associate director of alumni relations, said the Alumni Association is grateful for the dedication of its members, including Wolver, who "touched everyone in the room with his sincere gratitude and surprise during the presentation of the Lifetime Service Award."
Guests included President Pamela Gann, President Emeritus Jack Stark '57 and Jil '58, and past CMCAA presidents Robert E. Long '52, H. Kenneth Ward '52, John A. Poer '58 P'90, Ernest A. Doud Jr. '63, Rex Heeseman '64 P'95, Danford M. Baker '65, G. David Huntoon '65, Frederick Merkin '67, Boyd D. Hudson '73 P'05, Darrell G. Smith '74 P'00, Cary Davidson '75, William S. Woods II '77, Wayne Slavitt '80, Andrew Downs '81, Kirk W. Smith '81, Gigi Birchfield '82, Kevin Ennis '82, David Mgrublian, '82, Lorraine Bains '88, and John Sprouse '88.
Also present were Peter Barker '70 P'01, outgoing chairman of the Board of Trustees, and many honored guests and young alumni.
Hosting the event at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel was a nod to nostalgic glamour. Built in 1927, the 12-story tower and former playground of such Hollywood royalty as Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Carole Lombard, has enjoyed a recent resurgence, named by Conde Nast Traveler as "one of the world's five hottest hotels."
-------Katherine Spada '08
Visit the Annual Meeting 50th Anniversary photo gallery.